Hodgson Wants Another Team Performance

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has said that he wants to see another team performance when we take on Newcastle United this weekend.

Following on from the victory over Chelsea last weekend to register our first win of the campaign in the Premier League, Hodgson was again banging the 'team performance' drum as he met with the media ahead of the game.

Speaking to Crystal Palace FC Wilf Zaha obviously came in for praise following his impact, but Hodgson was quick to point out it can never be about just one player.

'He is a top class player and has been a talisman for the club in the past but football is a team game and as much as you need your top class players it's unfair to suggest that if we are going to get out of the trouble we currently find ourselves in then its got to be down to one man although we need to make certain we get the best out of him and support him in the best way we can.'

Hodgson went on to say.

'I was delighted for Wilf because I thought it was an exceptionally good performance especially given the circumstances, as he had been out for six weeks. I am rather hoping we will get another 30 performances like that from him going forward.'

Ending his talk about Wilf, he added.

'I think he is good but he can become even better, it would be wrong of me to start comparing him with other players I have coached because I have only really worked with him for three weeks on the training pitch here and some sessions with England a long time ago and the Chelsea game last week so it would be wrong for me to make comparisons. But if you are asking me whether I think he is a very good player with a great future and the chance to get even better then he is at the moment then I would have to answer with a resounding yes.'

In terms of team news for the game, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey comes back into his thoughts after missing out on Chelsea with a calf injury.

'Wayne Hennessey has recovered from the kick he received playing against Ireland, so we have a clean bill of health. We're lucky that we have no further injuries, apart from the two long-term ones in Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham. They both seem to be progressing quite well and I've spoken to Christian a couple of times and he's feeling very confident about being back ahead of schedule.'